'The Voice': Week five contestants talk Lady GaGa, career, show prep

It's been a whirlwind so far on The Voice's third season, and this week, the blind auditions came to a close as the final contestants filled out the teams of coaches Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton. The superstars were especially critical this week, and with so few places left, it was that much more important that the hopefuls pulled out all the stops.

The singers who managed to do just that - Caitlin Michele, Kayla Nevarez, Rudy Johnson, Chevonne and Cody Belew - spoke to reporters about their experience and their plans for the rest of the competition.

Cody, you were probably the most enthusiastic person to ever go through to the battle rounds. What brought on such an extreme reaction?"Well, I can tell you that back home in Arkansas, there is a small group of people who are not happy with my foul language! I will say that it was a complete honest response to the moment and it was like winning the lottery because I thought I was going home. I had my back turned whenever Cee Lo hit his button, so I didn't know and I turned around and all the chairs had turned. It's not until Adam asked 'Did that count?' that I started piecing it all together. I can't take back the way I reacted. I wouldn't normally have spoken that way, but I'm not going to apologize for it because that's how I reacted and that's what made it such a moment."

What are you hoping Cee Lo can bring out of you in the upcoming rounds?"I'm hoping that Cee Lo can bring out a level of stage production that I've never had at my disposal. I'm really looking forward to the production of it all. That's what I admire so much about the show from seasons one and two - they really let the artist explore that and it come across like an award show performance. I'm really thrilled to get to be creative with him and have him say, 'What do you think about this?' or 'Let's shock him with this'. The hope is that people will want to tune in to see what we're going to do next."

Chevonne, having been a background singer for Lady GaGa, what was the biggest challenge for you going into The Voice?"I think as a background singer, my voice has primarily been this instrument. I did dance on the Monster Ball tour as well - I did acting and choreography but it was mostly about my vocal. As a performer in that show, that's what I was focused on because I was doing the soprano part, so I had to do a lot of doubling with Gaga herself where I'd hear her in my in-ear monitor and sound like her or do it just a little bit differently so it would round out the EQ in the house. Now on The Voice, I'm coming out as me. It's not just my vocal, it's the part of my soul that comes through that. The story I'm telling is the story that comes from my heart. While it was the most rewarding experience to go on the road and see the world and speak through GaGa's vision and tell her story, now I get the opportunity to tell my own and show the colors of my own artistry, which is exciting."

How did you prepare for the battle rounds?"The advisers come in and it's very big artists with big careers and lots of really unique messages in their music. They're already supplementing the genius of our coaches, and you want to impress two people. For me personally, Cee Lo and Rob Thomas are huge influences in how I write and how I sing. You've got that element of two people you want to listen to to respect and learn from. But then, you're also competing against your friend. When you're on a team, you become close really fast. We talk to each other about what we're going through, putting our outfits together... we laugh and cry. It's a bonding experience that no-one else understands and to go against one of your friends who you love and whose voice you respect and admire is terrifying. You have to make a promise that you will honor them and their voice but you'll also do your best to stay on the show. It makes you feel so torn in so many ways, but I have to say, it's a joyous experience all around."

Do you think that auditioning later in the process when so few spots were left put you at a disadvantage?"Honestly, we were completely in the dark about who was on each team, how many spots were left... we didn't know and all we could think about and were aware of was our own blind audition and performance. We were just focused and our heads were in the game. All the pressure of the teams filling up wasn't on our radar, we just wanted to turn those chairs and connect with the audience. Everyone has a fair chance on The Voice, and everything around us has been nothing but fair. You get nothing but respect and we're all treated equally."

Have you heard from Lady GaGa since your audition?"I haven't heard from her. I know she's right in the middle of her European tour. In fact, I think she may or may not be doing a show at this very moment! I know she's working her butt off, so I just think she's amazing. I'm psyched that she's continuing to tour and I can't wait until she comes to the States."

Before last night, had you ever publicly shared your past struggle with eating disorders?"I talked about it with friends and family and people I trust and I've written a lot about it. But to talk about it on that stage in front of all those people in the audience and now the world who have seen the episode on TV - not to mention the four coaches - it was very scary to go there and even just to open the door to begin to discuss that issue. I didn't go into a lot of detail, but it was a really sad time in my life. I did not believe in myself. I was not strong. I was very scared and very sick and felt like I could never get better. I did eventually find strength in myself and I got better. It's been just about 10 years since I got over it, but you're never really better. It's always there. Every day is a fight but like I said on the show, I want to be someone who can show people that you don't have to let it beat you. Even if it's still in you, you can live your life and be happy and reach your dreams. That kind of sickness is not strong enough to beat you. You can find it in yourself to pull yourself up."

Rudy, how do you think being one of the older contestants will affect your chances in the competition, if at all?"I don't think age has anything to do with artistry - a good artist is a good artist at any age. I don't really think it has anything to do with the situation. There are some very talented people who are 15 years old who are here and are amazing, so in my humble opinion, I think I'll be okay."

Can you tell us a bit about what it's like to be pursuing your career later in life?"Well, after this long of a pause in my career to have something of this degree to be happening to me, I'm very pleased and overwhelmed. Everything's happening rapidly and it's almost unbelievable. I can't really - it just seems like a dream. I was checking out my iTunes and I'm number 16 on the iTunes rock charts and I never thought I'd see anything like that in the years that I've been raising my kid and playing little gigs here and there in bars. Seeing myself on national TV and reading the comments and seeing the blogs feels wonderful. Like I said, it's unbelievable."

What's the message you'd like to spread to your fans and viewers of The Voice?"The message I'd like to put out there is that it's very sad these days that a lot of men don't stand up and be the men they're supposed to be. A lot of men run away from their responsibilities. They make the baby but they don't take care of the baby and it really upsets me to see these young ladies walking around town with the baby in the stroller. I'm thinking to myself, 'Why is that? Where's the man that's supposed to take care of them?' And I see children from broken homes and I didn't want my daughter to go through that - nor do I think any child should have to go through that. I'm hoping some men maybe will be inspired to stand up to their responsibilities and do what they should do, which is to take care of their children."

Kayla - we know that your father was really ill at the time of your audition. How is he doing now, and have your living conditions improved?"He's doing alright. It doesn't really get better, it just gets progressively worse, but we're all there for him and helping him through whatever he needs help with. My mom has been working and she's been getting help from my older brothers and hopefully soon, when our apartment lease is up, we can find a bigger place to stay."

Celica, you did a great performance of Christina Perri's track - how did you channel such emotion at such a young age?"You know, being 16, I've gotten to go through a lot of teenage experiences, being around my friends and younger audiences. I feel like that helps me feel my song because I want to sing my songs to girls my age - really any age - and I want them to feel and be moved by it and know that I want to show encouragement and hope and positivity through everything I do, and I hope that they saw that."

Caitlin, you shared that you dealt with bullying when you were younger and a lot of anxiety. Can you tell us how you overcame that to come out for The Voice?"Yes, growing up I was just really odd. I'm still pretty odd, but I didn't really fit in. I know that's a cliché thing, but that's not really the big issue that caused my anxiety. I kind of just kept to myself. I've had the same best friend since I was in kindergarten. I read a lot and did a lot of ballet so I never really had time to deal with it. Because of it all, I don't know... I was very self-conscious growing up in the way that I didn't think I would ever make anything of myself because no-one really believed in me. My parents are very supportive but I would tell them I wanted to be a singer when I was a kid and they would encourage me to do something I could actually accomplish. They realized when I was in high school that I wasn't going to give it up because I was only applying to music and theatre schools. I go to Berkeley now... Winning a community contest gave me the confidence to try out for The Voice."